Work

1. Work Definition Paid work Unpaid work Voluntary work

2. Paid Work Formal • Financial gain… wage / salary from working usually in a designated place. • May be permanent, temporary, full-time, part-time or contract-based. • Self-employed or employed by another person. • A wide range of skills required ranging from manual to managerial position. • Provides security in the form of pensions, PRSI, holiday and sick pay.

3. Unpaid WorkInformal - • No financial reward for work. • Domestic housework… child – rearing, caring for elderly/disabled, general tasks e.g. cooking, cleaning etc. • DIY… home related activities. Point to Note!! Individuals with a child under 5 yrs, likely to spend on average 65 hours a week on housework, childcare and other related tasks.

4. Hidden Work ‘ Black Economy’ - when work and services are bought and paid for but no tax is paid to government.

5. Voluntary Work • No financial reward. • Higher status than unpaid work. Feel good is the reward!! Giving something back to community! • Involves contributing and working within the community e.g. meals on wheels, St Vincent De Paul, literacy classes given by volunteers, homework clubs • Charity work will also supply necessary items such as food, clothing etc. • Think about your social work experience in transition year!!

6. Attitudes to Work& Work Attainment 1.Intrinsic Satisfaction_ Job Satisfaction A person needs to be satisfied emotionally by their work as well as get paid 2. Extrinsic Satisfaction This is where the money is the most important aspect of the job. If work is boring they find satisfaction outside the job.

7. 1. Intrinsic Satisfaction • Work gives sense of fulfilment, pleasure and scope for creativity. Pride in work. • Develops self-esteem, confidence, independence. • Confers status and respect. • Satisfies psychological and social needs. • Challenging, prospects of promotion, rewarding and satisfying.

8. 2. Extrinsic Satisfaction • Based on bonuses associated with work rather than the job itself. • Repetitive uninteresting work e.g. assembly line – may fail to stimulate so the wage alone may become the focus for satisfaction. • Satisfaction is derived from spending the money on luxury goods and or socialising.

9. Attitudes to work continued… 3. Family Background Parental/older siblings attitude influences one’s work ethic – stems from the value parents place on work i.e. positive or negative. Work ethic incorporates attitude to absenteeism, punctuality, honesty, commitment. A positive one is a desirable attribute in an employee. 4. Social Grouping Socioeconomic group can have a huge impact on the attitude to work. People from low-socioeconomic backgrounds often have high unemployment rate or have unskilled jobs, low pay , little expectations.

10. Effects of Education on Employment • People from middle to higher socio-economic groups have better qualifications and higher expectations. • Individuals with greater qualifications have more positive experience of work and remain in employment longer. • Early school leavers with no formal qualifications have difficulty in getting well-paid long-term employment.